May 5, 2014

Written by

Dick Martin

CentralOhio.com

Birders spot various species of birds while on the boardwalk at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. / Jonathon Bird/CentralOhio.com

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Bird watching has become a major sport in Ohio. Perhaps the top spot to see many different kinds of birds is Magee Marsh along Lake Erie.

The marsh has already hosted beginner bird tours this year, and is a typical example of what birders will do to see a variety of feathered creatures.

This is big business. In 2011, there were an estimated 3.2 million wildlife watchers in Ohio. Their numbers were joined by approximately 48,000 out-of-staters who visited here. They spent more than $843 million that year on supplies, lodging, gasoline, food, etc.

During May around 80,000 visitors will typically come to Magee Marsh to witness the spring migration. The Wildlife Area is listed as one of the top 10 bird watching spots in the country.

• Anglers looking for truly big bluegills will find them at Lake La Su An in northwestern Ohio.

The wildlife area is becoming famed for its lunker bluegills, so the interested should know there are special regulations there this year. Among them, anglers are reminded they are no longer required to make reservations, or obtain special fishing permit to fish the lakes on the wildlife area.

All lakes will be open to fishing, however the number of days that anglers can fish the lakes will be restricted.

From May 2 through Sept. 29 the lakes will be open to fishing 4 days a week, Friday through Monday. All lakes will be open from sunrise to sunset during designated fishing days.

Sunfish bag limits for 2014 will be 25 fish daily, with no more than 5 fish being 8 inches or larger. For more information about fishing the La Su An area lakes visit wildohio.com under the Public Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Viewing Areas tab.

• Despite the record cold weather across Ohio this past winter Division of Wildlife fish management crews in northeastern Ohio were busy. Their efforts will pay off this spring when temperatures rise as anglers dust off their waders and clean up their boats to hit the water.

More than 1,100 holiday trees were recycled into fish concentration devices this past winter around lakes like Berlin Reservoir. These trees will be excellent spots for crappie and other panfish, and they should be fishable for several years.

• Animal lovers, swimmers,and those interested in science are invited to a Roar and Explore getaway package in Columbus this summer. The event is available from May 22 through Sept. 1, is designated for four guests, and costs $411 plus tax.

It includes visits to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, ranked the No. 1 zoo in America, COSI, the nation’s top science center and home this summer to the International Exhibit of Sherlock Holmes, and Zoombesi Bay, the world’s only waterpark inside of a major zoo.

For more information, call 888-795-3709.

• BoatUS News is hosting an “I’m your life jacket, but you don’t know me” promotion during National Safe Boating Week on May 17 through 23.

The organization notes that although boaters must have life jackets on board, they’re often in places hard to find, under piles of junk or buried in lockers so deep they’re not easily found.

Life jackets should be worn, not stored since of all fatal boating accidents involving a drowning, the victim was not wearing one 85 percent of the time. The jackets need not be bulky, and any boating supply store should have some that come in all shapes, styles and sizes, and are comfortable to wear.

• No reader need be told it was a truly bad winter and a look at any TV news broadcast will show the trend has continued with torrential rains, floods, mud slides, brush fires, tornadoes, and more.

To help stave off personal disaster, Waterford Press has published Urban Survival Guides that include Earthquake Survival, Flood Survival, Hurricane Survival, and Tornado Survival. The Pocket Guides retail for $6.95 and are available at Walgreens, True Value Hardware Stores, Tractor Supply Stores and hundreds of bookstores around the country.

Dick Martin is a retired Shelby biology teacher who has written an outdoor column for more than 20 years. He can be reached at richmart@neo.rr.com.